Therapies
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
It is a special form of electrical current that is administered at the site of soft tissue injury, especially muscles, for the blocking of pain. Small amounts of electrical current are induced into the tissues for the purpose of reducing swelling. This widely used technique safely strengthens muscles and helps reduce painful symptoms.
Patients generally feel a slight tingling sensation at first. Since your body may become accustomed to the initial setting, the intensity may be raised during the course of your treatment for maximum healing effect. Electrical Muscle Stimulation is used as an effective form of pain relief. It is recommended in cases in which pain is accompanied by swelling and inflammation.
Interferential Therapy
Interferential therapy uses a mid-frequency current for treating muscular spasms and strains. The current produces a massaging effect over the affected area at periodic intervals, and this stimulates the secretion of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers, thus relaxing the strained muscles and promoting soft-tissue healing.
Intersegmental Traction
Intersegmental Traction is a therapeutic treatment to aid in the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Tiny amounts of electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the vicinity of the injury. Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, a low-frequency stimulation is created. This prompts the body to secrete endorphins and other natural pain killers to help relieve pain.
Most patients find Interferential Therapy to be extremely beneficial and describe the treatment as a faint “pins and needles” sensation. Interferential is most often used for pain relief and to aid in reduction of swelling of soft tissues. Ligament sprains, muscle strains and spasms often respond to this treatment helping to reduce atrophy and increase blood circulation.
Thermotherapy and Cryotherapy
The thermotherapy used at the clinic is warm moist heat pads. Heat therapy is used to relax the muscles, increase circulation, and provide relief to patients with chronic pain. Increasing circulation and relaxing muscles is helpful before or after a chiropractic adjustment. Heat can calm tissues suffering from long term spasm or irritation and promotes increased blood supply to the affected area which promotes healing.
Cryotherapy is a term of the application of ice. Ice therapy is often used to reduce swelling and help control pain immediately after an injury. Cooling the affected area constricts blood vessels, helps relax muscle spasms, and numbs painful areas by reducing nerve transmission of painful symptoms and provide temporary relief. Depending on the patient’s condition a combination of ice and heat can be used.
Infrared Therapy
Infrared Therapy is a form of energy that radiates heat directly to a targeted area by does not cause the air around the area to get warm. Infrared heat is also called radiant heat similar to the sun’s heat. Infrared lamps were proven to be effective in warming the body directly. This then allows deep heat that is responsible for good health to be absorbed by the body. Infrared lamps main functions include lessening inflammation and soothing pain and therefore, effective for treating muscle and joint pains.